Watercolor work by MSU professor featured in national showcase

STARKVILLE, Miss. – A longtime Mississippi State University professor is contributing artwork for the 44th annual Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition in Evergreen, Colorado.

Brent Funderburk’s featured piece titled “Angelus Vitae” is a 22” x 38” watercolor he created earlier this year. The artwork was one of 73 pieces selected from a pool of 549 entries.

The showcase is a national juried exhibition throughout October known for artistic experimentation and considered one of the best exhibits highlighting watermedia painters in the United States.

Funderburk is a William L. Giles distinguished professor who has taught at MSU since 1982. During his career, he has served as department head, senior fine art coordinator and fine art coordinator.

“‘Angelus Vitae,’ or ‘angel of life,’ emerged out of a need to express gratitude for the female, mother, wife, lover, muse,” Funderburk said.

The impulse that runs through the series is an exposition of the angel’s varied appearances--in the still air of close objects, vast space, and the intimations of dreams, Funderburk said.

The artwork will be on display at the Evergreen Center for the Arts through October 28.

Part of the College of Architecture, Art and Design, MSU’s art department is the longtime home of the Magnolia State’s largest undergraduate studio art program. It offers a bachelor of fine arts degree, with concentrations in graphic design, photography and fine art (ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture). Learn more at www.caad.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.